Michael Crews:
CLASS OF 1975
Tate High SchoolClass of 1975
Cantonment, FL
Michael's Story
Life
Born December 4, 1957, I was always the youngest throughout school. Went to Bellview Elementary, Middle and then J.M. Tate High. I finished all graduation requirements mid year, Dec 74 and went to Tennessee. After a year of trying to figure out what I should be doing, I started PJC Jan 76, then UWF/FSU and graduated Dec 78. I immediately left for KCMO and went to work at Allied Signal Aerospace. Great first job that has served me well all of my engineering career!
To make a long story short, I have been an Engineer all over the U.S. for some really big companies. I took a break in the early 80's and went into the Navy by way of AOCS...yep, An Officer and a Gentleman. LOL I could tell you all I did, but then I'd have to kill you. hahaha!
I have been married one, two, three... awe I give up... I have two kids by one of them. They are Ashley born in 83 and Brandon born in 80. They have an older step-brother, Tommy born in 76, so I really have three. They all have kids and I'm just old. Grandkids a plenty and I must admit, they are more fun than raising your own. :-)
I've been in Alabama since 1996 and have moved several times, ending up in Anniston. since 2018. I entertain myself by playing a lot of golf. I've had a life I wouldn't have expected, living all over the US, but have settled in the big hills or little mountains of Anniston. No stress or at least very little. I now try to keep up with old friends and family, etc...by way of Facebook and Classmates.com. Because of facebook, a lot of my high school friends are still friends! They are friends forever! We all reconnected in 2010 face to face with a 35 year reunion and have had a couple of potluck picnics in Navarre... with another one coming after this pandemic crap is over; hopefully next year.
The 35 year reunion was fabulous. If you missed it on October 15 & 16, 2010, you missed the party of the year! There are a lot of pictures on Facebook. I wish everyone would put their pics on the Class of 1975 page, but go take a look, I think I got everyone. For the classmates I got to see again, you are all my special friends! There were a lot of great memories!
In 2011, we had a picnic on the beach and Ronny Miller did it again, I think in 2015...and as soon as the china crap is over, we'll do it again! We are getti...Expand for more
ng older and in my opinion, we should do the picnic every year, when we can. One thing that should never die as long as we are here on the earth is our friendships that started when we were young.
As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.
I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. Our parents were too concerned about others watching us. So many people in the the world do not even remember what they see a few minutes later.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver and laugh about that..
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).
MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!
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